Wednesday, July 21, 1993

Today was a good day. We didn't go aground, even though we threaded a lot of very narrow channels between shallow shoals. Guess we're starting to figure out how to run this baby. They say, "If you haven't gone aground, you haven't run the ICW."
In the morning, we crossed the famous Albemarle Sound. It was almost like being on the ocean, especially since the day was overcast and rainy with limited visibility. We couldn't see anything but gray water and gray sky. The rain came down in buckets for a while, but soon quit.
We were glad we had the GPS. Albemarle Sound is 14 miles wide, and the markers are so far apart that you can't see the next one, especially when visibility is poor, but with the aid of the GPS, we found our way across.
In the North River, we saw a sinister-looking deadhead in the ICW channel. It was about 12 inches in diameter and perhaps 6 inches protruded from the water. If a boat ran into it, the results would have been disastrous. I VHF'd the Coast Guard and told them about it. A little later, we heard them broadcasting a warning of a hazard to navigation in the North River. So I had done my good deed for the day.
We were amazed by the number of eagles' nests we saw. Most of them were built on the tops of channel markers. There were usually two to four half-grown eagles on each nest. (Later found out those eagles were ospreys.)
Around three in the afternoon, we tied to a marina in Coinjock. I use the term "marina" very loosely; it was a row of pilings along the channel. There were no restrooms or showers, but there was electricity, and it only cost 50 cents a foot. The marina across the way, which didn't look appreciably better, charged $1 a foot.
We walked a couple of blocks, and then went back to the boat for our bicycles. We rode to a produce stand that was just closing. They gave us all the peaches we wanted for free. (The peaches were ready to be thrown out.) We bought six ears of corn for $1.25 and six cooked crabs for $2. (He tossed in an extra, so we actually got seven for $2.) We took the stuff back to the boat and then rode our bikes some more.
Roy went to the right, but I turned left because I wanted to see what was at the end of the road. I knew it was only about a quarter mile. When I got to the end, I turned around and went after Roy. Pretty soon I saw his bike parked in front of a store on the other side of the road, so I went over there. As I suspected, Roy was inside eating ice cream. I had some, too, and then we rode a few more miles down the highway.
I kept seeing signs for a "Pig Pickin'" and wondered what on earth a "Pig Pickin'" was. Finally, I asked someone. She said they roast a whole pig and then people "pick" at it. That is, they eat it.
North Carolina is a beautiful state. Everything is so green and lush. The woods are dense, and the crops are thriving. We saw acre after acre of tall corn. No hint of drought here. And there's so much vacant land! And so much water!
Roy phoned his son Steve and his friend Al. Al might fly out and sail with us a while. That will be fun.
I phoned the Yacht Registry in Wilmington and asked them to sit on our mail until we get there, instead of forwarding it to Steve.